North Fork was having one of the worst snow storms ever. The stagecoach got stranded at our ranch. I had no choice, I tried to make everyone feel as welcome as I could. There were three passenger.....and a stagecoach driver. Teresa Miller (Tess) was the only woman, she was a woman scorned. Christopher Ryan/Rolf was a gunslinger. Vince Medford was a whiskey salesman who liked to sample his product. And Scotty the stagecoach driver.
I told Tess I would put her bag in the bedroom. She didn't 
want to inconvenience us. I told her it was fine. She would be more comfortable there. "Yeah get comfortable girly.....storm like this we're in for it," said Medford. "I'll do that Vince," said Tess. She saw the look on my face. "Mr. Medford and I are old.....acquaintances," said Tess. I opened the door to the bedroom and showed her in. She asked if Mark and I shared the same room. I told her we did. She said she wouldn't mind if we stayed in the same room. She suggested hanging up a blanket. I told her it would make things easier under the circumstances.
While Mark was peeling more potatoes for supper he was watching Medford put away the whiskey. "He sure must have been cold," said Mark. I laughed. "This is almost like a huntin' trip, sleepin' in our bed rolls tonight." said Mark. "What's a matter with your bed?" I asked. You should have seen the look on his face. He tried to talk but kept stuttering with his word. "But Pa!" I told him not to get excited.....we could hang a blanket between the beds, he would have his privacy. "Just a blanket!" said Mark. He dropped the potato on the floor. I told him this was no time to be wastin' food. I had to laugh.....he was funny.
Scotty had gone out to the barn to unharness the horses from the stagecoach. Rolf went along to help him. Scotty noticed that Rolf was having some kind of discomfort. He asked him if something was wrong. Rolf told Scotty he was fine. "Just got a stitch in my side.....it must 
be the cold." Scotty told him he was goin' in the house. He would feed the animals later. Rolf told him to go ahead, he'd be along soon. He then got a small piece of his luggage out. Scotty wanted to help him but he said he could handle it.
I was tending the soup while Mark chopped some firewood. Tess came over to see if she could help. "Where's Mrs. McCain?" Asked Tess. "My wife passed away sometime ago." "Don't you find it hard living here like this? Raising a boy all alone?" Asked Tess. "We manage." "Careful McCain.....she's drawing a bead on ya!" Said Medford. He laughed. "Never did see little Tess girl here when she didn't go for them tall ones." He started to tell me some thing's about her. I interrupted him....."Mr. Medford.....we're liable to be stuck here together for a few days, why don't you make yourself useful like everybody else?" He turned around in the chair he was sitting in and took another swig of his whiskey. "That table needs setting." I said. "Mr. Medford." He turned and looked at me. "Why don't you set the table?" He got up from his chair and obliged me.
Scotty came in from the barn. "Funny thing about Mr. Ryan, not wanting his luggage in the house. Opened it right out there in the barn. After he made sure I left." Scotty could feel the tension in the air. "What's the matter, did I interrupt something?" Asked Scotty. "Just the sensitivity of a woman!" Said Medford. "Well then someday your gonna choke on that stuff and then no ones gonna have to listen to that nasty mouth of yours anymore," said Tess. "You see what I mean? I can remember a few years back when Tess girl here.....all she had to do was flutter her eyelashes," said Medford. "Vince," said Tess. "Of course things have changed. While all the way up here from Yuma, handsome guy like that Ryan wouldn't even give her a tumble," said Medford. "Medford!" I yelled. She told us that five years ago she had come out here to get married, only she never did. Her man was killed in a fight and she was stranded in La Paz, Arizona. She was penniless. That's 
where she met Medford. He took pity on her. He gave her money. But not enough to go home.....just enough to keep her from going home. She's waited five years and now she was going home. Medford just happened to be on the same stage!
Just then Mark came charging in. "Pa.....Pa.....come quick.....it's Mr. Ryan." He had collapsed. He was face down in the snow. Scotty, Mark and I carried him into the house. I had Tess get the bottle of brandy out of the kitchen cupboard. We were busy trying to get Ryan to come to that I didn't pay much attention to Medford taking Ryan's wallet out of his coat. "Hey.....his name ain't Ryan, it says Christopher Rolf," said Medford. "Rolf!" "McCain.....this man's a gunslinger.....he's a killer!" Said Medford. "What do you want me to do.....throw him back in the snow?" I asked. I then gave Ryan/Rolf some brandy.
When Rolf came to, he apologized. "I'm sorry.....sometimes my presence creates an undesirable atmosphere―through no fault of my own." "Through no fault of your own! "Your a killer.....eight men.....maybe more!" Yelled Medford. Rolf jumped up from the chair. "Eight is an exact figure Mr. Medford!" I grabbed Rolf. "Mr. Rolf.....this is my home, I want you to respect it!" I told Medford the same goes for him.
We all set down to supper. Mark was hoping' he wouldn't have school tomorrow. I told him he could study here at home. "Never neglect you lessons boy for any reason," said Rolf. "Where did you go to school at?" Ask Medford. Tess told Rolf to ignore him, he was drunk. Medford was getting out of hand. He was being arrogant. I told him that was enough. 
But he wouldn't shut up. "What's a matter Tess girl.....couldn't score with McCain, so he's next in line," said Medford. "Alright! Now you listen to me. I didn't ask for you people to stop by here. Where you came from and what you are, is no concern of mine. As long as your in our house.....eatin' out food and accepting our hospitality, you'll act like decent human beings. Or somebody may find themselves walking to North Fork, and this isn't a very good night for walking." "Do I make myself clear?" Medford got up from the table and went back over to set in the chair. He didn't want to eat with a killer.
Rolf told us he use to be a school teacher. He told us about this useless gunfight in his town. A bullet killed his wife. Guns were his hobby. He collected them and he also knew how to use them. He had gone after the man and wanted to bring him back for trial. He tried to gun Rolf, but Rolf was faster. They said he was good, but he had out drawn one of the best. Words go around. Other came around laughing. They wanted to try the school teacher. "He's right.....I am a killer.....but not by choice!" Tess felt sorry for him. She told him everybody gets a second chance. He told her a second chance was impossible for him. I asked him if someone was after him now. He said you could put it that way. He excused himself and said he wanted to get some fresh air. He was holding his side.
It was time for bed. Mark wanted to sleep out on the floor with me. He was afraid the boys at school would hear about this. I told him everything would be fine. I told Tess she could go in the bedroom now.
Medford had a plan. He thought Rolf was runnin'. He felt that Rolf had money stashed to keep him goin'. He thought that was the reason
Rolf kept going out to the barn was to check on the money. There was a stagecoach outside of Yuma a couple of weeks ago, the stagecoach driver was killed. There was army payroll money on that stage. Rolf was in Yuma at that time. There was a reward, $5,000. He wanted Tess to throw in with him. He wanted her to keep him busy while he went out to the barn and check Rolf's luggage. She refused.
Medford decided he'd go and check it out for himself. Rolf was sleeping on the chair when he heard the door close. He got up and went outside. Tess heard the door shut too and went out to see what was going on. She asked Rolf what was wrong. He asked her to leave him alone. She then went back into the house and woke me up. I went out onto the porch. Rolf said he was ok, he just needed some air. I asked where Medford was. Tess told us he was in the barn going thru Rolf's things. "He's a fool," said Rolf. He then ran to the barn. I got my rifle and followed Rolf.
Medford had shot at Rolf when he told him to get away from his things. Medford threatened me. "Stay away McCain or I'll kill you!" I've been waiting all my life for a chance like this!" He yelled to me that it was money Rolf had stole and there was a big reward for it. Rolf went up the ladder after Medford. He took Medford's gun from him and shot two shots in the air. "You haven't got enough guts in that whole suitcase to kill me!" Said Rolf. He then gave him his gun back and took his case from him. He brought the case to Tess and I. "There is nothing in this case except medicine," said Rolf. 
"Six months ago I was shot. A doctor removed the bullet." "Something happened inside.....it didn't heal." "Since then the pain has been gettin' worse." "I was told I had three months to live." "There's a surgeon in St. Louis who said there may be some hope.....a little hope."
The next day turned out to be a nice day. We loaded up the wagon, everyone was ready to go. I told Rolf that I hoped everything worked out for him. Tess was sure it would. Rolf told her there was hope.....that's all any of us need.
"Boy.....wait 'till the kids at school hears that Chris Rolf spent the night at our house!" Said Mark. "Oh.....are you gonna tell them?" I asked. "Sure I am," said Mark. "About everything?" "Well......maybe I better not tell them about.....everything!" Said Mark.
Christopher Rolf/Ryan. I think it's safe to say that we all know who Adam West is! He was "Batman." This show was extremely popular in the 1960's. A lot of stars couldn't wait to be on this show. He has done a lot of westerns - all types of TV shows and movies. He was Executive Story Editor &Creative Consultant in "Batman." He also did voices for many cartoon characters. 
